I recall the rebel flag display was dying out while we were making strides in the civil rights movement. When Reagan came into office and he expressed his disdain for being tolerant, then I saw the rebel flag and even a few swastikas being prominently displayed.

We are sliding back where we started in the 60's with a war we had no business into, our young men and women dying needlessly, a president who is No JFK. We are seeing a growing animosity toward minorities, especially when it comes to voting and civil rights, and the rebel and swastika are displayed as sign of pride and heritage....

then perhaps it will fall out of favor, in a general sense. In an academic, i.e. historical context, I see no reason why it should not be displayed, but seeing it plastered all over bumpers or hanging from antennae is disconcerting to say the least. To see it on a state flag/building (non-museum setting) makes me fightin' mad!

We need to keep an open discussion/debate about this. I'm optimistic barriers will be overcome and a greater unity realized, as a nation. Adding a bit of Cayenne pepper to this particular topic, in my opinion, will successfully jog our collective conscience into a deeper understanding. This happens only through experience and being the other. If one person can convince another to walk in her shoes, he might learn a thing or two.

Judging from the relative demographics on DU, we have a population of folks born during/after the Civil Rights era. I'm not sure what their exposure was (outside the classroom) of the struggles folks faced to gain equality under the law.

So I am not surprised when I read a person saying they don't think anything is wrong with the rebel flag, or swastikas. In most cases they are probably more clueless and ignorant than racist.

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